Can reassurance hurt?

摘要

Reassurance is probably the most widely used approach by parents and medical staff intending to reduce a patient's pain and psychological distress. However, what empirical evidence exists to support its assumed and universally regarded benefits? On close inspection, the literature is unexpected. Reassurance appears to have counterintuitive consequences. This article reports the latest research on the relationship between adult reassurance and child distress. The benefits of proper timing of reassurance provision, as well as the importance of contextual factors, are discussed.